Vondy to be inducted into WSCU Mountaineer Sports Hall of Fame

By Katie Collins Brush News-Tribune Staff Writer

Posted:
04/23/2013 01:31:34 PM MDT

Updated:
04/23/2013 01:35:15 PM MDT

Brush High School Principal Dave Vondy has been selected for induction into the 2013 Western State Colorado University Sports Hall of Fame, an event to take place the weekend of October 11 and 12. (Courtesy photo)

Brush High School Principal Dave Vondy has spent a great deal of his career in education motivating students, athletes and boosting sports programs in schools across northeastern Colorado. He has worked as an Administrator in Holyoke and Principal at both Yuma and Brush, but for this Beetdigger alum, it is memories of his glory days as a NCAA National Champion wrestler and as a member of the Mountaineers football team that have come rushing back.Vondy was recently notified of his selection for induction in the 2013 Western State Colorado University Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s a wave of emotions really,” noted Vondy when asked how he felt about the honor that was announced to him last Monday. “It’s pretty humbling too, just to think of all the student-athletes who’ve gone through WSCU, and to be selected as one of the hall of fame inductees is pretty amazing. Western State was a very special place for me and it is truly an honor to be considered for the Mountaineer Hall of Fame.”Vondy’s athletic career received a great boost during his time as a Beetdigger where he earned the title of BHS Male Athlete of the Year in 1996-97.In football this Class of 1997 BHS graduate led his 1994 State Championship team in tackles as a sophomore, was a three-time leading tackler on defense throughout his career and was named the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News’ All-State Linebacker in 1996.

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When it came to wrestling, Vondy kept the accolades coming as a 4-time state qualifier, 3-time state placer, 2-time Colorado State Wrestling champion, and 1997 Colorado 3A Wrestler-of-the-Year. He also led the BHS squad to a state-runner up finish, the highest the school had earned since 1956. Vondy was recruited by Director of Athletics Dr. Greg Waggoner and Head Wrestling Coach Miles Van Hee to WSCU in Gunnison on an academic, football and wrestling scholarship. As a member of the 1997 Mountaineer squad, one of his most memorable moments in football came on the heels of a Mountaineer Bowl upset over defending and eventual national champion UNC Bears. The victory was immortalized in part of WSCU famous trainer Don Mundell’s “Top 5 most memorable moments at Western”, which also included Vondy’s 2001 NCAA National Championship run in 2001 in Greeley, Colorado. As a four-time NCAA National Qualifier, 4-time Academic All-American and 2-time NCAA All-American, Vondy hit a highlight moment in 2001 when he won four consecutive breath taking matches to win the NCAA National Championship in wrestling, a moment that also earned him prestige as the 2001 Colorado Collegiate Wrestler of the Year honors. Vondy entered the tournament unranked and unseeded. He went onto upset the number two, three and five seeds in route to the title in front of 3,000 people including a huge contingent of Beetdigger and Mountaineer fans! “We are very excited for Dave to be inducted,” said renowned WSCU Wrestling Coach Miles Van Hee, who nominated Vondy for the honor. “Dave is very deserving. He is probably one of the most well-rounded wrestlers that I’ve coached,” continued Coach Van Hee, “In terms of mentally toughness, he’s one of the best wrestlers I’ve coached and a wrestler that has always believed in himself. Dave’s 2001 title was very exciting for him and for all of us here, but the WSCU Hall of Fame is not only about great athletes,” reminded Coach Van Hee. “Dave is also well-rounded and has had a lot of success in his young career. He’s done such a great job and has progressed quickly, but then again he was always a very hard worker and a determined individual in college.”The honor was recently bestowed on Vondy after a committee of 16 members, composed of WSCU Administrators, staff members, coaches and community members, chose him for the tribute that will have Vondy, his wife Brenda and all four of the Vondy children including Faith, Brody, Brock and Quinly all proudly join in during the induction ceremony, scheduled for Friday, October 11 at the Gunnison Event Center.The next day, Saturday, October 12, the university will also hold a ceremonial halftime show during a Mountaineer football game versus New Mexico Highlands University. That evening WSCU will host their annual wrestling reverse raffle and dinner. The 1963 and 1964 national championship teams and Vondy will be honored to conclude the festive hall of fame weekend. Dave would like to thank his parents, Vic and Kim Vondy for all of their support and encouragement over the years. Additionally, he would like to thank his wife Brenda, sister Meredith, and all his family and friends for all their support and contributions to his career over the years. Vondy noted, “Everyone that helped me win the national championship definitely has ownership in the national title and now the Hall of Fame. It has been a team effort and made possible by all the great people I have been able to work with over the years. I will be accepting the hall of fame recognition on behalf of the “team” that helped make the dream come true.”

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